Sheraton Invites an ADA lawsuit

Monday

Aug 26, 2013 at 12:01 AM

For the second time in one year, a Sheraton hotel has refused to equip my hotel room with incandescent light bulbs. Having come equipped only with CFL bulbs, my choice was either to buy my own bulbs, or to sit in the dark for $350/night.

On Friday, a major hardware chain announced that it would be winding down its inventory of incandescent bulbs. I found myself in the midst of a stampede of people sweeping dozens of incandescent bulbs into a shopping cart, in the blind hope that my bulb stash will hold out for the next 40 years. I refuse to state how many I currently have, but I can publicly announce that I am prepared to defend my bulb stash with maximum force.

The point I want to make here is that the folks hoarding incandescent bulbs at today’s riots are not crazed libertarian right-wing survivalists. Like me, they suffer severe blinding headaches, vertigo, nausea and other debilitating symptoms as a result of the CFL bulbs, and we all dread the day when we will be sitting in the dark.

Its one thing for the government to decide to encourage alternative bulb development. Its another thing for the government to effect consumer choice with nary a thought for consequences. CFL is today’s thalidomide, and that will soon become very apparent. In the meantime, when I check into a hotel when I am traveling on business, I believe I have every right to a public accommodation that will not only be non-harmful, but non-debilitating.

I’ll be sending out my presentment letter to Sheraton this week, but in the meantime, I’m home stacking cases of light bulbs in my vault.

Rob Meltzer

For the second time in one year, a Sheraton hotel has refused to equip my hotel room with incandescent light bulbs. Having come equipped only with CFL bulbs, my choice was either to buy my own bulbs, or to sit in the dark for $350/night.

On Friday, a major hardware chain announced that it would be winding down its inventory of incandescent bulbs. I found myself in the midst of a stampede of people sweeping dozens of incandescent bulbs into a shopping cart, in the blind hope that my bulb stash will hold out for the next 40 years. I refuse to state how many I currently have, but I can publicly announce that I am prepared to defend my bulb stash with maximum force.

The point I want to make here is that the folks hoarding incandescent bulbs at today’s riots are not crazed libertarian right-wing survivalists. Like me, they suffer severe blinding headaches, vertigo, nausea and other debilitating symptoms as a result of the CFL bulbs, and we all dread the day when we will be sitting in the dark.

Its one thing for the government to decide to encourage alternative bulb development. Its another thing for the government to effect consumer choice with nary a thought for consequences. CFL is today’s thalidomide, and that will soon become very apparent. In the meantime, when I check into a hotel when I am traveling on business, I believe I have every right to a public accommodation that will not only be non-harmful, but non-debilitating.

I’ll be sending out my presentment letter to Sheraton this week, but in the meantime, I’m home stacking cases of light bulbs in my vault.

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